Mechanical pencil



sept. 7, 1937, C. E, WEHN MECIFIANICL PENCIL Filed Sept. 9, 1955 INVENTOR. my www.

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Patented Sept. 7, ll'f? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEcHANicAL PENCIL charles E. wenn, Alameda, cam.

Application September 9, 1935, Serial No. 39,764

/ 'z claims. (marzo-1s) 'l This invention relatesto mechanical pencils and especially vto a pencil of the propelled and repelled type.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of pencils of the character dei crayon, or similar marking material;

scribed; to provide a pencil which is adapted to receive a, removable sleeve containing a lead,

to provide means for propelling the sleeve, together with the lead carried thereby, `from a retracted or repelled position to a writing position, said means being also capable of advancing the lead With relation to the sleeve; to provide means for retracting the sleeve and the lead from Writing position; to provide a pencil havinga frictional grip on the lead at the tip end thereof and at the same time permitting retraction or repelled action; and, further, to provide a sleeve for enclosing and supporting the lead throughout its length to prevent breakage of the lead at points intermediate its ends.

The pencil is lshown by Way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in whichl Fig. l is a central, vertical, longitudinal sectio of the pencil;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section oi the anchor member; V

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line IV--IV oi' Fig'. 1,'

Fig. 5 is a perspective view' of the driving meinber; l

vFig. 6 is a perspective View oi the pusher rod;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the lead receiving and supporting sleeve;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. l, showing the writing end of the pencil, said view showing the lead in projected or writing position; and

Fig. 9 is a view-similar to Fig. showing the lead in retracted position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly Fig. 1', A indicatesthe main barrel secand one end of the anchor member projects beyond the barrel section into the actuating section C; the projecting end of the anchor member being provided with an annular shoulder 4 and an internally threaded passage 5 which functions as a nut. 'I'he shoulder 4, which is formed on the outer end of the anchor member, secures theV actuating section against endwise removal with relation to the anchor member and the barrel A but yit permits free rotation of the actuating section. Mounted within the tubular anchor member is a push rod or bar, generally indicated at S. This bar is flat and its opposite edges are threaded as indicated at l. One end of the bar is flattened to form a pair of shoulders, as indicated at y8, which engage the nut 5 and as s'uch limits' outward movement of the pusher bar. The bar extends through the nut 5 and has threaded engagement therewith, and in order that the bar may be advanced or retracted means must be provided for imparting relative rotational movement between ythe bar and the nut 5. This is accomplished as follows:

Suitably secured in the actuating section is a driving member consisting of a sleeve 9, one end of which is opened While the other end is partially closed as indicated at Il). A rectangular shaped slot Il is formed in the partially closed end of the driving member and the pusher rod extends therethrough. The pusher rod is freely movable in an endwise direction with relation to the driving member but the sides of the rectangular shaped slot ii will engage the flat sides of the pusher rod; hence if the actuating member C and the driving member secured therein are rotated,

rotary motion will be transmitted to the pusher bar, and as it rotates with relation to the star tionary nut 5 the rod will either be advancedl or retracted with relation to the point section B, depending upon the direction of rotation of the member C.

The point or lead carrying section B, as previously stated, is carried by the actuating section C, that is` the forward end of the actuating section is internally threaded to receive thethreaded end I3 of the point section. The point section is otherwise provided with a central passage I4 for the reception of the lead or other marking material to be employed, as indicated at I 5.

In the present instance the lead is mounted within an elongated metal sleeve indicated at i6. 'Ihe sleeve is substantially the same length as the lead and it is made of thin metal and has an annular iiange I6a formed at one end. The 4iiange and the sleeve yare split from end to end, as indicated alwemtiom e. -led .inthe Pointfmtiilf "isjupfscrewed and the Ii i Il is also removed einer .with the ringiljlsplaced in earned thereby is passed nimugntne springend l 'in the passage offtheipointsection. The point section containing 'thesleeva the' lead, and

15,1.' the spring is then screwed bach' into the' actuating Vsection C and by rotating saidfsection' in the proper direction the pusherA or propelling bar 6 will be advanced. Itis of a diameter tuL permit' it to f enter the flanged end of the sleeve and it will 20 engage the end of the lead a'ndforee` it forwardly.

' The' lead, as previously stated,' is frictionally held within the sleeve and when pressure is applied on the end of the lead by means of the propeller bar, both the sleeve and the lead will be advanced from 25 the retracted position shown in Figs; l and 9, to

the advanced or projected position shown in Fig. 8; the spring I8 being brought under compression Vduring such advancement.

The lead is now in a position for writing and if 30 it becomes worn away during writing, it is only again necessary to rotate the actuating section C to move the propeller bar Ii forward. During such forward movement, the lead alone will advance as further forward movementA of the sleeve is pre- '35 vented by the compression of the spring I8. On

the other hand, if the individual -employing the pencil is through writing and wishes to prevent breaking of the projected lead, he reverses the direction of rotation of the actuating section C y 40 causing retraction of the propeller bar 6 and when the bar is retracted spring I8 will expand and, as

such, causes retraction of the sleeve and the lead Vfrictionally held therein.

From the foregoing it will be noted that a pencil 45 having a frictional grip on the lead at the tip end thereof has been provided which, at the same time, is capable of retracting the lead. It kwill also be noted that the lead is enclosed by the sleeve substantially from end to end and is thus supported 50 throughout its length and breakage at points intermediate the ends of the lead is prevented.

VThe pencil' structure shown inthe present invention was designed with the particular obj ect in view of handling colored leads, sueltas are com- 55 monly referred to as crayons.v These are usually of larger diameter thanrordinary p'encilV leads and they are composed of a colored material and a binder which is oily fand fatty in action.

A number of mechanicalL pencils have been con- 60 structed for handling colored leadsof `this charac- 65 receiving passage of thepencil.

ter but they have proven a failure for the simple reason that a certain amount of the fatty substance of whichv the crayon'zis composed has a tendency to adhere to the inner surface of the lead This deposit builds up to such an extent in -a comparatively short time that it is almost impossible to force the crayon through and the result is lthat the propelling mechanism is subjected to excessive strain 70 and wear and the crayon is liable to lodge and thereby permanently plugup the lead receiving passage.

In the present instance when the pencil is used for colored leads, one or more sleeves, such as 75 shown at I6, will accompany a package of leads new is then wam . and when one sleeve becomes too clogged and dirty it may be thrown away and substituted and any danger-of clogging up the lead receiving passage is' thus avoided, and excess wear on' `the propeller mechanism is eliminated.

while the pencil, es already stated, is particu- Qlarly designed for handling crayons, leads and -the like, it may obviously be used for ordinary pencil leads and it will be used for that purpose as the mechanism provides a friction tip pencil and at the same time permits retracting action, something that has not been obtainable in pencils where the lead is frictionally v held. l

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and ilnish of the several parts employed may be such as themanufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a pencil of the character described a barrel section, a point section having a passage formed therein and extending therethrough, a removable sleeve insertable in said passage, said sleeve adapted. to contain a lead, said sleeve and the lead carried thereby being longitudinally movable in the passage from a retracted position to an advanced writing position, and manually actuated means advanceable or retractable at will, said means being engageable with the lead to advance the lead and the sleeve from a retracted to a projected position, and other means for retracting the'sleeve and the lead upon retraction of said manually actuated means.

2. In a pencil of the character described a bar- I rel section, a point section having a passage formed therein and extending therethrough, a removable sleeve insertable in said passage, said sleeve adapted to contain a lead, said sleeve and the lead carried thereby being longitudinally movable .in the passage from a retracted position to`an advanced writing position, and manually actuated means advanceable or retractable at will,

said means being engageable with the lead toy advance the lead and the sleeve from a retracted to a projected position, and other means for retracting the sleeve and the lead upon retraction of said manually actuated means, said means also adapted to project the lead independently of the sleeve when the sleeve assumes a projected position.

3. In a pencil having a lead receiving passage formed therein, a'removable metal sleeve insertable in the passage, said sleeve adapted to contain a. lead and the lead being frictionally gripped within the sleeve, means in the pencil for advancing the sleeve and the lead a predetermined distance and then the lead independently of the sleeve, said means being retractable, and other means for retracting the sleeve and the lead when the retractable means has been retracted.

4. In a pencil of the character described a barrel section, a point section having a passage formed Atherein extending therethrough, a removable sleeve insertable in said passage, said sleeve adapted to contain a lead, an annular flange on one end of the sleeve, a propeller bar in the barrel section, said propeller bar being engageable with the lead in the sleeve, a spring interposed between the inner end of the point section and the flange on the sleeve, said spring when the inner surface ci the sleeve becomes being placed under compression when the propeller bar is advanced by movement oi thesleeve and -lead in unison when pressure is applied by the propeller bar, and means for retracting the propeller bar, said spring simultaneously retracting the sleeve and the lead.

5. A lead holder and carrier'for leads such as used in mechanical pencils comprising an elongated open ended sleeve adapted to enclose a lead, said sleeve extending substantially from end to end of the lead and being. split longitudinally to frlctionally retain the lead but permitting movement of the lead therethrough, and an annular ilange formed at lone end of the sleeve.

6. In a pencil of the character described, a barrel section, a point section having a passage formed therein and extending therethrough, a removable sleeve insertable in said passage and adapted to contain a lead, said sleeve being circumferentially expansible and having an exterior diameter which is less than the interior diameter of the passage in which it is inserted so that coated with lead it can expand and maintain a substantially constant irictional grip on the lead, and means for advancing the lead through the sleeve.

7. In a pencil of the character described, a barrel sectioma removable point section on the bai'-v rel having a passage formed therein and extending therethrough, a removable sleeve insertable in said passage from the inner end o! the removable point section, said sleeve adapted to contain a lead and said sleeve being circwnferentially expansible and having an exterior diameter less than the interior diameter of the passage in the removable point section, so that when the inner surface of the sleeve becomes coated with lead it can expand and maintain va constant frictional grip on the lead, means for advancing the lead through the sleeve, and means for retaining the sleeve against movement outwardly through' the removable point of the pencil. t

' CHARLES E. WEHN. 

